Lauren Socha Not Returning For ?Misfits? Season 4, Racial Assault Conviction Not Reason For Departure

A spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Lauren Socha would not be back to play 'Kelly Bailey' for the 'Misfits' season 4. Her decision to leave the show was nothing to with her arrest and subsequent charges for racial assault, the spokesperson said.

The 21-year-old played the 'chavvish' character on 'Misfits,' a popular E4 drama about a group of young offenders doing community service who unexpectedly get hit by a freak lightning storm that gives them super powers. She won a BAFTA for her role in May 2011.

A mutual decision was reached between Clerkenwell and Lauren earlier this year that she would not be returning for the fourth series, said an E4 spokesperson in a statement to Digital Spy UK. Misfits' has been in production for a number of weeks now and Lauren is not part of the lineup.

The E4 spokesperson said Socha's decision to part with the show had nothing to do with her recent conviction for racially-aggravated assault.

No. Clerkenwell Films and Lauren Socha agreed some time ago that along with other cast members, including Iwan Rheon [Simon] and Antonia Thomas [Alisha], she would not be returning for the fourth series of Misfits, which is currently in production. Channel 4 supports both parties' decisions, said the spokesperson.

Socha received a 4-month suspended jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to charges of racially assaulting a taxi driver last October.

The actress had gone on a 9-hour drinking binge before being picked up by taxi driver Sakander Iqbal, 52.

According to BBC, Iqbal picked up Socha and her friend from a pub around 2 in the morning. He dropped her friend home first before making his way over to Socha's house.

On the way back, because she'd had a bit to drink, because her senses weren't right, she goes to me: 'Where are you taking me, you should have gone right there' and I said: 'I'm taking you home, I know what I'm doing', and she just lost it he said according to BBC. She started to swear at me, I felt uncomfortable.

Iqbal said Socha punched him, nearly causing him to lose control of the car.

Iqbal said Socha called him a P**i, a dirty b*****d, according to the Independent. She said to him: You're Asian, f**k off back to where you came from.

She said: 'Do you know who I am? I'll have your family lifted, said Iqbal.

Iqbal said in his 20 plus years as a taxi drive he has never experienced such abuse from a client.

I've had people in the car who've gone over the top but you can have a laugh with them, but no-one's racially abused me, he said according to BBC.

He said the incident has made him more cautious of whom he picks up and has left him really distraught.

Socha was sentenced Wednesday. She cried while details of her case were discussed.

She was given a 4 month suspended jail sentence for one year, ordered to complete 80 hours of community service, and made to pay Iqbal $720 (£450) and compensate him for court costs of $1,200 (£750), reported Contact Music.

Judge Hilary Watson said Socha's conduct that night was despicable.

The actress declined to comment, but Socha's mother said she's very, very sorry for all the distress she's caused to Mr. Iqbal and his family.

Socha is best known for her role as 'Kelly' on the TV drama 'Misfits,' which features an ensemble cast. Of the five original cast members, only one of them will be returning for the fourth season.

Robert Sheehan, who played the ever-popular Irishman Nathan, left the show after season 2. Antonia Thomas and Iwan Rheon who portrayed on screen lovebirds Alisha and Simon, were killed off during season 3.

As of now the only original cast member who will be returning for season 4 is Curtis, played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. Joe Gilgun's character Rudy, who was introduced as a replacement for Nathan in season 3, is also set to return.